Laundry machine



Aug. 14, 1956 H. c. ELLIS LAUNDRY MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April21, 1955 Aug. 14, 1956 H. c. ELLIS 2,758,465

LAUNDRY MACHINE Filed April 21, 1955 I: Sheets-Sheet 2 97 INVENTOI} 100.4 7g Hafieri (CZ 2&6;

a 7 BY I J United States Patent LAUNDRY MACHINE Hubert C. Ellis,Evanston, ill. 7

Application April 21, 1955, Serial No. 502,867

11 Claims. (Cl. 68-210) The present invention relates to machines forwashing fabrics and the like, and more particularly to an improvedself-unloading type laundry machine adapted for use, for example, incommercial laundries.

Self-unloading laundry machines of the kind with which the presentinvention deals embody a base or supporting structure upon which thereis movably mounted a casing in which fabric articles and the like arewashed in a washing liquid by means of an agitator, or its equivalent,located within the casing. In order to reduce the time and laborrequired for unloading washed articles from the casing, the machines arearranged to dump the articles therefrom by gravity after the washingoperation has been completed. To this end, the casing is mounted on thebase or supporting structure insuch a way as .to be bodily movablebetween a normal position and a dumping position. The fabric articlesand the washing liquid are preferably introduced into the casing whileit is in this normal position, and when the washing has been completedthe casing is raised, tilted, or raised and rotated, to its dumpingposition wherein the washed articles fall from the casing through asuitable opening therein. When the casing has been emptied of articles,it is returned to its normal position where it is again charged withwashing liquid for another load.

Inasmuch as the supply conduit or conduits for introducing washingliquids into the casing are preferably of a stationary character, whilethe casing is movable, considerable difiiculty has been experiencedheretofore in devising a clean and sanitary manner of introducing thewashing liquids into the casing without dripping or spilling the liquidand without permitting vapors of the liquid to escape into the room. Itwill be understood, of course, that the problem is greatly aggravated bythe fact that any liquid-tight connection between the supply conduit andthe casing must be broken everytime the casing is raised to its dumpingposition and must be remade everytime the casing is returned to theposition in which it receives a new supply of washing liquid.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide aself-unloading laundry machine of the type described above having newand. improved means for introducing washing liquids into the casingwithout spilling or dripping the same, while at the same time permittingfree and unobstructed movement of the casing from its liquid receivingposition to its dumping position and back again. Another object of theinvention is to provide a fluid operated seal between the casing and astationary liquid supply conduit therefor, the seal being expansible toperfect a liquid-tight joint between the casing and the discharge end ofthe supply conduit when the casing is in position to receive washingliquid, and being retractable from its sealing position so as to permitfreedom of movement of the casing from its liquid receiving position toits dumping position. Still another object of the invention is toprovide means preventing removal of the casing from its liquid receivingposition while the seal is in its expanded condition, and preventingexpan- .sion of the seal while the casing is being moved into saidposition, thereby avoiding damage to the seal. A further object of theinvention is to provide interlocking means in conjunction with the sealfor locking the casing and the discharge end of a liquid supply conduitor manifold in fixed relative positions when the casing is moved intoits liquid receiving position.

These and other-objects and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof,taken with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in rear elevation of a laundry machine embodying thepresent invention, showing the movable casing thereof in its washingfluid receiving position;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation looking at the lefthand end of thewashing machine as seen in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the casing raised to theposition in which it will dump washed articles therefrom;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view in rear elevation showing washingliquid inlet valves and a stationary liquid supply manifold forintroducing the liquids into the casing;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on yet a larger scale takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, showing in solid lines therelation of the discharge opening of the washing liquid supply manifoldto the outer end of an inlet conduit on the casing when the casing is inits washing liquid receiving position andan inflatable sealing ring isin a deflated condition, and showing in broken lines the relation ofthepartsas the casing is pivoted upwardly toward its dumping position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view somewhat similar to Fig. 5, showing theinflatable ring when it is in an inflated condition toprovide aliquid-tight seal or connection between the discharge end of the Washingliquid supply manifold and the outer end of the inlet conduit on thecasing.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in front elevation showing a controlassembly for selectively raising and lowering the casing between itsliquid receiving position and the position in which the washed articlesare dumped from the casing;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken substantially alongthe line 88 in Fig. 7, showing a valve operated by the control leverillustrated in Fig. 7;

Fig. '9 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially along theline 9 in Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a schematic diagram showing the controls and the electricalcircuits for producing coordinated operation of the casing and theinflatable sealing ring.

As best shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the laundry machine of the presentinvention may be provided with a stationary base adapted to rest uponand be secured to. the floor of a laundry or the like. The basecomprises a pair of laterally spaced upright standards 21 and 22 whichprovide floor engaging feet 23, a pair of laterally spaced upstandingfront arms 24 (only one of which is shown), and a pair of laterallyspaced upstanding rear arms 25. The standards may be secured together inan appropriately spaced arrangement 'bya plurality of longitudinally andhorizontally extending tie bars 26, one of which is shown extendingbetween the laterally spaced feet of the standards (Fig. 1) The base isstrengthened :and rigidified by a longitudinally and horizontallyextending shaft 20 (Figs. 2 and 3) that is fixed at its opposite ends inthe upper end portions of the upstanding front arms 24, and by a hollowhorizontal rear frame member or beam 27.fixed at its opposite ends tothe upper portions of the rear upstanding arms 25.

Disposed between the pair of upright standards there is a cylindricalcasing, designated generally by the numoral 28, within which fabricarticles and the like are washe The casing includes a cylindrical wall29 and a pair of circular end Walls 30 that enclose the opposite ends ofthe casing, each end wall carrying on its exterior a somewhat cup-shapedgear housing 31. The gear housings 31 are arranged to contain gears andother mechanism for driving any suitable kind of agitator located withinthe casing for tumbling or otherwise agitating the fabrics in any ofseveral well known ways to cause the fabrics to be washed. If desired.the agitator may be driven by electric motors 36 mounted on the gearhousings 31 at opposite ends of the casing.

The front side of the casing adjacent its opposite ends is provided witha pair of forwardly projecting, axially aligned collar-like elements 32(Fig. 3) rotatably received upon the shaft 20 for supporting the frontside of the asing and permitting upward and forward pivotation of thecasing about the shaft from its washing liquid re ceiving position shownin Figs. 1 and 2 to the dumping position illustrated in Fig. 3. The backside of the casing, on the other hand, has formed thereon a pair ofprojecting feet 33 adapted to rest on the upper surface of the framemember 27 and thereby support the rear side of the casing when thecasing is in its lowered or washing liquid receiving position.

In its operation the casing 28 is preferably charged with dirty clothingand the like while it is in the washing liquid receiving position shownin Figs. 1 and 2. For this purpose the front side of the cylindricalwall 29 of the casing may have a suitable opening therein (not shown).Washing liquid, which may comprise water or a mixture of water anddetergents, is also introduced into the casing while it is in thisposition by means hereinafter described, and the washing and rinsing ofthe fabric articles within the casing may then take place. At theconclusion of the washing operation the washing liquid is drained fromthe casing through a pair of conventional dump valves 35 arrangedbeneath the casing as shown in Fig. l. The casing is then pivotedupwardly and forwardly about the shaft 20 through substantially a 90 arcto its dumping position (Fig. 3) wherein the fabric articles fall fromthe casing through the opening in the front wall thereof. This pivotingand raising of the casing is accomplished by a pair of conventionalhydraulically operated expanding struts located at opposite ends of thecasing, each strut comprising a cylinder having therein a pistonconnected to a piston rod 41 extending from the upper end of thecylinder. The lower end of each cylinder is pivotally mounted, as at 43,upon an outwardly extending bracket 42 formed or otherwise secured uponeach of the upstanding standards 21 and 22 of the base, and the upperend of each piston rod 41 is pivotally secured, as at 46, to a bracket45 formed on the outer end of each of the gear housings 31 at oppositeends of the casing.

The hydraulic system for selectively expanding and contracting thehydraulic struts to raise and lower the casing 28 includes, in theembodiment shown, a hydraulic pump 48 and a manually operated four-waycontrol valve 49 (Figs. 8 and 9). If desired, the pump may be mounted onthe outer wall of the upright standard 21, as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,in position to be driven by an electric motor 50. The inlet port of thepump is connected by a pipe 48 (Figs. 1 and 2) to a reservoir forhydraulic fluid which may be conveniently located within the standard 21or elsewhere, and the outlet port of the pump is connected by a pipe toone side of the four-way valve 49, the pump preferably being providedwith the usual pressure relief valve for returning excess output of thepump to the reservoir.

The control valve 49, which preferably is located at a control stationadjacent the front end of the upright standard 21, embodies asubstantially cylindrical casing 52 having a longitudinally extendingbore 53. As best seen in Figs. 8 and 9, the casing has four radiallyextending passages 54, 55, 56 and 57 in the wall thereof, each of whichis internally threaded at its outer end. From the threaded end of thepassage 54 a conduit 54', which may include flexible tubing, extends tothe bottom ends of the two cylinders 40 of the hydraulic struts, whilethe hydraulic pressure line 55 from the pump 4-8 is connected to thethreaded end of the passage 55. The threaded outer end of the passage56, on the other hand, is connected by a conduit 56' (which also mayinclude flexible tubing) to the upper ends of the strut cylinders 4d,and from the threaded outer end of the passage 57 a return pipe 57'leads from the valve to the reservoir mentioned above. Arranged in thebore 53 of the valve there is a cylindrical, rotatable valvc core 59having stems 6i) and 61 extending from its opposite ends. These stems,which are encompassed by suitable gaskets, are journaled in openings 63provided in a pair of easing end plates 64 and 65 which are threadablyreceived in the opposite ends of the bore 53. The stem 60 extendsoutwardly from the end plate 64 and projects into a cupshaped housing 66that is attached to the outer end of the valve casing 52. The valve coreis rotated by an upstanding lever 67 that extends through a slot 68 inthe upper portion of the housing 66 and is threadably received at itslower end in a cam-collar 69 that is fixed on the projecting end of thestem 60. As best shown in Fig. 7, this collar is provided on itsperiphery with two cam surfaces 70 and 70', between which there is aflat surface 69'. The valve core 59 also has a pair of oppositelydisposed arcuate grooves 71 and 72 formed therein that are arranged inalignment with the inner ends of the passages in the valve casing 52.The grooves are separated by a pair of oppositely disposed lands 73 and74-. The arrangement of the lands is such that when the lever 67 is inan upright or neutral position, as shown by solid lines in Fig. 7, theland 73 blocks the passage 54- and the land 74 blocks the passage 56,thereby preventing flow of hydraulic fluid to or from both the upper andthe lower ends of the strut cylinders 49. When the lever is swungcounter-clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 7, and into the left-hand brokenline position there illustrated, the lands 73 and 74 are disposed asshown in Fig. 9 and the groove 71 establishes communication betweenpassages 56 and 57 for connecting the upper ends of the cylinders to thereturn line 57' leading to the reservoir. At the same time, the groove72 establishes communication between passages 54 and 55 for connectingthe lower ends of the cylinders to the pressure side of the pump 48,thereby causing fluid under pressure to be introduced into the lowerends of the cylinders to extend the struts and raise the casing 28 toits dump position shown in Fig. 3 when the motor 56 is in operation.When the lever 67 is moved into the right-hand broken line positionshown in Fig. 7, on the other hand, the arrangement is such that thegroove 72 establishes communication between the passages 55 and 56 forconnecting the upper ends of the cylinders to the pressure side of thepump for contracting the struts, and at the same time the groove 71establishes communication between passages 54 and 57 for connecting thelower ends of the cylinders to the reservoir, thereby venting the lowerends of the cylinders as the struts contract to lower the casing 28 fromthe dump position into its lower position.

The casing is charged with washing liquid when in the lower position, asshown in Figs. 1 and 2, by the provision of a liquid-tight connectionbetween the stationary discharge opening of a washing liquid supplymanifold 75, and the outer end of a cylindrical inlet conduit 76 whichis attached to and swings with the casing 28. The manifold is centrallyarranged on the upper side of the hollow horizontal frame member 27, tothe rear of the casing, and is secured to this frame member by means ofbolts 78 that extend through a base plate 79 of the manifold and throughthe upper web of the frame member. As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the centralportion of the manifold comprises a hollow mixing chamber 77 having acircular discharge opening 88 directed toward the casing 28. The chamber77 is supplied with water by a pair of laterally and upwardly extendingbranch pipes 81 that are connected through a pair of pneumatically orotherwise operated valves '82 to cold and hot water pipes '83 and 84,respectively. The right-hand end of the chamber 77, as viewed in Fig. 5,receives an L-shaped pipe 85, the lower portion of which extendslongitudinally within the chamber and has a discharge end 86 arrangedconcentrically with respect to the discharge opening 80 of the chamber.During the charging of the casing 28 with liquid, this pipe may besupplied with appropriate liquid cleaning agents and the like which passout the discharge end 86 of the pipe and mix with water flowing throughthe discharge opening 80 of the chamber.

The discharge end of the chamber 77 has an exterior radially extendingannular flange 87 formed thereon that is disposed around the opening 80,and at the top of the flange there is an upstanding block 88 formed asan integral part of the flange. As best shown in Figs. 5 and 6, theforward face of the flange is provided with an annular slot 85 aroundthe discharge opening 80 of the chamber 77. This slot is substantiallyrectangular in cross-section and snugly receives a ring-like insert 90having a base portion that seats in the bottom of the slot. The forwardface of the ring-like insert has a forwardly directed circular tongue 91formed thereon, this tongue being of dove-tail shape in itscross-section so as to receive, in interlocking dove-tail fashion, therear side of an annular resilient ring 92 of rubber or the like. Thenormal configuration of the rear side of the resilient ring correspondsto the configuration of the frontside of the insert, as shown in Fig. 5,so that the side portions'of the ring are wedged in a substantiallyair-tight seal between the tongue 91 and the sides of the slot 89. Inits normal condition (Fig. 5), the forward face 93 of the resilient ringis substantially .flat and flush with the forward face of the flange 87within which the ring resides. However, the forwardmost face of thetongue 91 has a shallow annular groove 94 :formed therein which, withthe adjacent surface of the resilient ring '92, provides a circularexpandable air chamber underlaying the resilient ring. Means areprovided for introducing air under pressure into this chamber to inflatethe resilient ring, this means including a small air line 916 whichextends forwardly through the insert 90 and opens at its forward endinto the shallow groove 94.

The liquid inlet conduit 76 carried by the casing 28 comprises a pipesection 97 which communicates at its inner end with the casing interiorthrough an opening 98 in the side wall '29 of the casing. The inner endof the pipe section is provided with an annular outwardly flared flange89 that is welded or otherwise secured to the .inner surface of thecasing side wall around the opening therein. This flange may besandwichedbetween an inner annular reinforcing member 100 if desired.The outer end of the pipesection 97 is provided with an inwardly turnedflange 101 which has mounted thereon, as by bolts 104, a circular metalflange 102. The flange 102 is substantially rectangular in axial crosssection and provides an exterior annular shoulder 105 around the conduit7 6, and its forward face 106 provides an annular, planar seatingsurface around the inlet opening of the conduit 76.

As previously noted, the lower limit of the arc traversed by the casing28 in moving from the upper position into the lower position isdetermined by engagement of the feet 33 with the upper surface of therear frame member 27. This arrangment is such that when the casing 28 isin the lower position, the inlet opening of the conduit 76 is insubstantial alignment or registry with the discharge opening 80 -of thesupply manifold 75.

6 Also, the seatingsurface 106 ion the flange 102 around the inletopeningii'sin aface Ito face relation with respect to the forward face93 of the resilient ring 92, and is slightly spaced therefrom when thering is in a deflated condition, as shown in Fig. 5. This spaced apartrelation accommodates unobstructed movement of the inlet :conduit '76:intoand out of alignment with the discharge opening of the supplymanifold as the casing is swung between its upper and lower positions.The inlet conduit '7'6 and the discharge end of the supply manifold areautomatically locked together in this aligned, spaced apart relationeverytime the casing 28 is lowered to its washing liquid receivingposition. To this end, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the uppermost edge ofthe flange 102 on the inlet conduit is provided with a rearwardly andthen downwardly projecting hook 108 that is received over the upstandingblock 88 on the flange 87 of the supply manifold 75 as the casing 28 ismoved into its lower position. The base plate 79 of the manifold alsoprojects forwardly to 'a'position beneath that occupied by the loweredge of the flange 1-02 and has an upstanding, beveled edged block 109secured thereon which, with the base plate 79, forms .a rearwardly andthen upwardly directed hook :behind which the lower edge of the flange1-02Lis received as the casing 28 is moved into its lower or washingliquid receiving position. The hook 108 and the hook formed by the baseplate '79 and the upstanding block 109 thereon thus insure that theinlet end of the conduit 76 :on the-casing'28 and the discharge openingof the supply manifold 75 are properly spaced and tightseal between thesupply manifold 75 and the liquid inlet conduit 76 leading into theinterior of the casing 28. As will beexplained below, after the washingliquid has passed through this liquid-tight connection and beforethe:casing 28 is raised :to :itsdumping position, the air line :40 961svented, permitting the 'resilient'ring'92 to contract to its normalcondition (Fig. 5) so as to accommodate free movement of the casing outof, and subsequently back into, its washing liquid receiving positionwithout damage to the resilient ring.

The control means for coordinating movement of the casing 28 between itsupper and lower positions and for forming andbreaking the liquid-tightconnection between the supply manifold and the liquid inlet conduit 76are best illustrated schematically in Fig. 10 of the drawings. Electricenergy for the system is supplied by a pair of conductors 11-1 and 112,the latter of which extends directly to the motor 50 that drives thehydraulic pump 48. The conductor 111, on the other hand, extends to acontact 113 of a switch 114 that is operated by movement of the controllever 67. The switch has another contact 115 and a bridge member 116adapted to engage .the two contacts to complete a circuit through theswitch. This bridge 116 'is normally urged, by a compression spring 117,toward an upper or open position, as shown in Fig. 10, and the bridgehas an upwardly extending dielectric plunger 118 thereon that rides onthe periphery of the cam-collar 69 upon which the lever 67 is mounted.When the lever is in :its neutral or upright position, the top of theplunger .bears against the fiat surface 69' of the collar. However, whenthe lever 67 is moved from its neutral position to either of itsoperating positions (Fig. 7) the camsurfaces 70 or 70 serve to depressthe plunger 118 and'thereby close the switchlld.

From the contact 115 of the switch 114 a conductor .119 extends to acontact 120 of the lowermost switch 121 of a stack type switch assembly1 22, this lowermost switch having another contact 123 from whichanother conductor 124 extends to the motor 50. The switch 121 visprovided with a switch bar 125 for completing the circuit through theswitch, the bar being fixed upon a dielectric switch operating rod 126that is common to all of the switches in the stack type assembly 122.

From the conductors 111 and 112 leads 127 and 128 extend respectively toswitches 129 and 130 which are integral parts of the switch stackassembly 122, the switches 129 and 130 having switch bars 131 and .132,respectively, that are attached to the common control rod 126. From Fig.it will be noted that the arrangement of the switches in the switchstack assembly. is such that when the switches 129 and 130 are closed,the switch 121 to the motor 50 is open, and when the rod 126 is raisedto close the switch 121, the switches 129 and 130 are opened.

Leads 133 and 134 extend from the switches 129 and 130, respectively, tocontacts 135 and 136 within the base 137 (Fig. 1) of a pull-out typesafety junction 138, the lower portion of this junction being mounted onthe upper side of the rear frame member or beam 27. The upper portion139 of this safety junction is mounted upon the rear of the cylindricalWall 29 of the casing 28 and contains two electric bridges 140 and 141which, when the casing 28 is in its lower or washing liquid receivingposition shown in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively engage the contacts 135and 136 and complete circuits therefrom to contacts 142 and 143 alsocontained in the base portion 137 of the pull-out junction. From thecontacts 142 and 143 leads 144 and 145 extend to the terminals of asolenoid operated three-way air valve 146. Thus, it will be understoodthat when the casing 28 is raised out of its lower or washing liquidreceiving position the upper portion 139 of the pull-out safety junction138 is raised with respect to its lower portion 137, as illustrated bythe broken lines in Fig. 10, to open the circuit to the solenoidoperated air valve 146.

Air under pressure from any suitable source is supplied to the air valve146 through an air line 147 and, when the solenoid of the valve 146 isenergized, this air is introduced by the valve into the air line 96 toinflate the resilient ring 92 and thereby perfect the liquid-tight sealbetween the washing liquid supply manifold 75 and the liquid inletconduit 76 carried by the casing 28. On the other hand, when thesolenoid of the valve 146 is deenergized, the valve returns to a normalposition shutting off the supply of air from the supply line 147 andventing the air line 96 and the resilient ring 92 through a vent line148.

If desired, the valve 146 and the stack type switch assembly 122 may bemounted within a cabinet 51 (Figs. 1 to 3) carried on the underside ofthe rear frame member or beam 27. In that event the common control rod126 of the switch stack 122 is preferably remotely operated as by theuse of air pistons or one or more solenoids that in turn are controlledin any suitable manner by a pair of safety push buttons 149 and 159located in the face of a control cabinet 151 mounted above or closelyadjacent the control handle 67. The control box 151 may, if desired,contain automatic control equipment such as is shown in my Patent No.2,678,063, issued May 11, 1954, for controlling automatic operation ofthe washing and rinsing cycle within the machine.

FI'OIII the foregoing description it will be understood that after thecasing 28. has been raised to its dump position (Fig. 3), and while theswitch 121 is closed, the control lever 67 may be moved to itsappropriate down position to cause fluid under pressure to be introducedinto the upper ends of the strut cylinders 40 and simultaneously causethe lower ends of the cylinders to be vented. The movement of thecontrol lever 67 depresses the plunger 118 of the switch 114 to closethat switch and thereby complete the circuit to the motor 50 to causethe pump 48 to supply hydraulic pressure for lowering the casing 28 toits washing liquid receiving position previously described. In thisconnection, if desired, the return line 57 leading from the valve 49 tothe reservoir may have a suitable restriction therein so as to controlthe rate at which hydraulic fluid is returned to the reservoir from thelower ends of the strut cylinders 40 and thereby insure that lowering ofthe casing 28 will not occur at an excessive rate. As the casing movesinto its lower washing liquid receiving position the upper portion 139of the safety pullout junction 138 carries the bridges and 141 thereininto contact with the contacts 135 to 143, thereupon making it possiblethereafter to complete the circuit to the solenoid controlled air valve146 to cause the resilient ring 92 to be inflated preparatory to theintroduction of another batch of Washing liquid into the casing 28. Itwill be noted, however, that this circuit can not be completed to theair valve 146, even after the casing 28 has reached its lower position,until after the common control rod 126 of the stack type switch asscmbiy1.22 has been lowered to close the switches 129 and 13%. At the sametime the switches 129 and 130 are closed the switch 121 is automaticallyopened to insure that the electric motor 150 is deenergized. Thisinterlinking of the switches 129 and 130 with the switch 121, togetherwith the pull-out safety junction 138, insures that the resilient ring92 can not be inflated while the casing 128 is out of its lower orwashing liquid receiving position, or while the motor 50 is energized tocause hydraulic fluid under pressure to be supplied for raising orlowering of the casing 28. Similarly, when the casing has been filledwith washing liquid, the .interlinking of the switches 129 and 130 withthe switch 121 insures that the solenoid of the three-Way air valve 146i automatically deenergized to cause the resilient ring 92 to bedeflated whenever the motor 50 is energized to raise the casing 28 outof its lower position. Freedom of movement of the casing 28 is thusinsured and inadvertent damage to the resilient ring 92 is avoided.

The foregoing description has been given for clearness of understandingonly, and no unnecessary limitations should be implied therefrom, for itwill be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and changesmay be made in the present apparatus without departing from the spiritand scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A laundry machine of the self-unloading type comprising, a casingwithin which soiled fabrics are washed in a washing liquid, means formounting said casing for movement between a first position wherein saidwashing fluid is introduced into said casing and a second positionwherein said fabrics are dumped from said casing, a washing liquidsupply conduit having a stationary discharge end, an inlet conduit onsaid casing in communication with the interior of said casing, the outerend of said inlet conduit being in substantial alignment with thedischarge end of said supply conduit when said casing is in said firstposition and being remotely disposed with respect to said discharge endof said supply conduit when said casing is in said second position, aresilient inflatable ring on the end of one of said conduits, and meansfor alternately inflating said ring to expand the same forcefullyagainst the end of the other of said conduits to provide a liquid-tightseal therebetween and deflating said ring to permit unobstructedmovement of said casing out of said first position and into said secondposition.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer end of saidinlet conduit and said discharge end of said supply conduit are insubstantial alignment with an intervening space therebetween when saidcasing is in said first position, and wherein said inflatable ring onone of said conduit ends is spaced from the other of said conduit endswhen said ring is in its deflated condition, thereby permittingunobstructed movement of said casing into and out of said firstposition.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer end of saidinlet conduit and said discharge end of said supply conduit are insubstantial alignment with an intervening space therebetween when saidcasing is in *9 said first position, and wherein said ring occupies saidspace when said ring is inflated.

4. A laundry machine of the self-unloading type comprising, a casingwithin which soiled fabrics are washed in a Washing liquid, means formounting said casing for movement between a first position whereinsaidwashing fluid is introduced into said casing and'a second positionwherein said fabrics are dumped from said casing, a washing liquidsupply conduit having a stationary discharge end, an inlet conduit onsaid casing in communication with the interior of said casing, the outerend of said inlet conduit being in substantial alignment with thedischarge end of said supply conduit when said casing is in said firstposition and beingremotely disposed with respect to said discharge endof said supply conduit when said casing is in said second position, :aresilient inflatable ring on the end of one of said conduits, means forinflating said ring to expand the same forcefuly against the end of theother of said conduits to provide a liquid-tight seal therebetween whensaid casing is in said first position, thereby preventing spilling ofsaid liquid when the same is introduced into said casing through saidconduits, andmeans responsive to removal of said casing from said firstposition for rendering said inflating means inoperative, therebypreventing inflation of said ring except when said casing is in saidfirst position.

v 5. A laundry machine of the self-unloading type comprising, a casingwithin which soiled fabrics are washed in a washing liquid, means formounting said casing for movement between a first position wherein saidwashing fluid is introduced into said casing and a'second positionwherein said fabrics are dumped from said casing, a washing liquidsupply conduit having a stationary discharge end, an inlet conduitonsaid casing in communication with the interior of said casing, the outerend of said inlet conduit being in substantial alignment with thedischarge end of said supply conduit when said casing is in said firstposition and being remotely disposed with respect to said discharge. endof said supply conduit when said casing is in said second position, aresilient inflatable ring on the end of one of said conduits, and meansoperative only when said casing is in said first position for inflatingsaid ring and expanding the same forcefully against the end of the otherof said conduits to provide a liquid-tight seal therebetween, therebypreventing spilling of said liquid when the same is passed through saidconduits and into said casing.

6. A laundry machine of the self-unloading type comprising, a movablymounted casing within which soiled fabrics are washed in a washingliquid, power operated means for moving said casing between a firstposition wherein said washing fluid is introduced into said casing and asecond position wherein said fabrics are dumped from said casing, awashing liquid supply conduit having a stationary discharge end, aninlet conduit on said casing in communication with the interior of saidcasing, the outer end of said inlet conduit being in substantialalignment with the discharge end of said supply conduit when said casingis in said first position and being remotely disposed with respect tosaid discharge end of said supply conduit when said casing is in saidsecond position, a resilient inflatable ring on the end of one of saidconduits, means for inflating said ring to expand the same forcefullyagainst the end of the other of said conduits to provide a liquid-tightseal therebetween when said casing is in said first position, therebypreventing spilling of said liquid when the same is introduced into saidcasing through said conduits, and means preventing simultaneousoperation of said inflating means and said casing moving means.

7. A laundry machine of the self-unloading type comprising, a movablymounted casing within which soiled fabrics are washed in a washingliquid, power operated means including an electric motor for moving saidcasing between a first position wherein said washing fluid is introducedinto said casing and a second position wherein said "fabrics are dumpedfrom saidicasing, a .firs't elec"- tric circuit for said electric motor,a washing :liquid sup- :ply conduit having :a stationary discharge end,an inlet conduit onsaid casing in communication with the interior .ofsaid casing, the .outer end of said inlet conduit being in substantialalignment with the discharge end 'of'said supply conduit when saidcasing is in said first position and being remotely disposed withrespect to said discharge end ofsaid supply conduit when said casing isin said second position, a resilient inflatable ring on the end of oneof said conduits, electrically operated means forinflating said ring toexpand .said ring forcefully against the end of the other of saidconduits to provide 'a liquid-tight seal therebetween when said casingis in said first position, thereby preventing spilling of said liquidwhen the same is introduced into said casing through said conduits, asecond electric circuit for said electrically operated inflating means,means responsive to removal of said casing from said first position foropening said second circuit to prevent inflation of said ring exceptwhen said casing is in said first position, and safety means preventingsimultaneous energization of said circuits, thereby preventing operationof said inflating means when said motor is in operation and preventingoperation of said motor when said inflating means is in operation.

8.- A laundry machine of the self-unloading type comprising, a movablymounted casing within which soiled fabrics are washed in a washingliquid, power operated means including an electric motor for moving saidcasing between a first position wherein said washing fluid is introducedinto said casing and a second position wherein said fabrics are dumpedfrom said casing, a first electric circuit for said electric motor, awashing liquid supply conduit having a stationary discharge end, aninlet conduit on said casing in communication with the interior of saidcasing, the outer end of said inlet conduit being in substantialalignment with the discharge end of said supply conduit when said casingis in said first position and being remotely disposed with respect tosaid discharge end of said supply conduit when said casing is in saidsecond position, a resilient inflatable ring on the end of one of saidconduits, electrically operated means for inflating said ring to expandsaid ring forcefully against the end of the other of said conduits toprovide a liquid-tight seal therebetween when said casing is in saidfirst position, thereby preven ing spilling of said liquid when the sameis introduced into said casing through said conduits, a second electriccircuit for said electrically operated inflating means, and safety meanspreventing simultaneous energization of said circuits, therebypreventing operation of said inflating means when said motor is inoperation and preventing operation of said motor when said inflatingmeans is in operation.

, 9. A laundry machine of the self-unloading type comprising, a casingwithin which soiled fabrics are washed in a washing liquid, means formounting said casing for movement between a first position wherein saidwashing 'fluid is introduced into said casing and a second positionwherein said fabrics are dumped from said casing, a washing liquidsupply conduit having a stationary discharge end, an inlet conduit onsaid casing in communication with the interior of said casing, the outerend of said'inlet conduit being in substantial alignment withthe'discharge end of said supply conduit when said casing is in saidfirst position and being remotely disposed with respect to saiddischarge end of said supply conduit when said casing is in said secondposition, means for locking together in spaced apart relationship saidouter end of said inlet conduit and said discharge end of said supplyconduit when said casing is in said first position, a resilientinflatable ring on the end of one of said conduits, and means foralternately inflating said ring to expand the same forcefully againstthe end of the other of said conduits to provide a liquid-tight sealtherebetween and deflating said ring to permit unobstructed movement 11of said casing out of said first position and into said second position.

10. The combination set forth in claim 9 wherein said locking meanscomprises a hook and a radially extending shoulder on opposite sides ofsaid outer end of said inlet conduit, and a hook and a radiallyextending shoulder on opposite sides of the discharge end of said supplyconduit, said hooks receiving said shoulders in interlocking fashionwhen said casing is moved into said first position.

ll. A laundry machine of the self-unloading'type comprising, a movablymounted casing within which soiled fabrics are washed in a washingliquid, power operated means including an electric motor for moving saidcasing between a first position wherein said washing fluid is introducedinto said casing and a second position wherein said fabrics are dumpedfrom said casing, a first electric circuit for said electric motor, awashing liquid supply conduit having a stationary discharge end, aninlet conduit on said casing in communication with the interior of saidcasing, the outer end of said inlet conduit being in substantialalignment with the discharge end of said supply conduit when said casingis in said first position and being remotely disposed with respect tosaid discharge end of said supply conduit when said casing is in saidsecond position, a hook and a radially extending shoulder on oppositesides of said outer end of said inlet conduit, a second hook and asecond radially extending shoulder on opposite sides of said dischargeend of said supply conduit, said hooks receiving said shoulders ininterlocking fashion when said casing is moved into said first position,a resilient inflatable ring on the end of one of said conduits,electrically operated means for inflating said ring to expand said ringforcefully against the end of the other of said conduits to provide aliquid tight seal therebetween when said casing is in said firstposition, thereby preventing spilling of said liquid when the same isintroduced into said casing through said conduits, a second electric,circuit for said electrically operated inflating means, means responsiveto removal of said casing from said first position for opening saidsecond circuit to prevent inflation of said ring except when said casingis in said first position, and safety means preventing simultaneousenergization of said circuits, thereby preventing operation of saidinflating means when said motor is in operation and preventing operationof said motor when said inflating means is in operation.

No references cited.

